Mustangs’ first foray into new conference filled with challenges

Bolstered by a strong group of newcomers, the Mustangs (10-2) have won five
straight, developed a tough interior defense and outrebounded all but one
opponent.

The Mustangs are competing for national recruits, including several who are
making an immediate impact, and they recently got a vote in the AP poll for the
first time in 10 years.

But now comes a difficult stretch of games that will provide a true test.

SMU begins the New Year with its first game in the American Athletic
Conference at Cincinnati on Wednesday. That is followed by Connecticut in the
reopening of renovated Moody Coliseum on Saturday and a trip to Louisville, Ky.,
to face the defending NCAA champs.

“This is real basketball now,” senior Shawn Williams said. “It’s a very
important stretch because this conference schedule can set us up for March and
Selection Sunday.”

The Mustangs’ new conference will bring a significant increase in national
exposure even without the Big East basketball schools.

Their next five opponents are a combined 50-12.

The American has three teams in the AP top 25: Louisville in No. 14; UConn is
No. 17 and and Memphis No. 18.

“I’m excited because I think that’s why all of these kids came here, to play
in a league like the one we’re in and in places like Cincinnati, Connecticut,
Louisville and Memphis,” Brown said.

Cincinnati (11-2) has won four straight since consecutive losses to New
Mexico and Xavier. The Bearcats recently displayed the most dominant rebounding
performance in school history, going plus-48 against Chicago State.

The American race is more wide open with Louisville losing forward Chane
Behanan, who was dismissed for violating university policy.

The Mustangs seem up to the challenge with big men Yanick Moreira and Markus
Kennedy averaging a combined 20.3 points and 11.3 rebounds, and point guard Nic
Moore’s team-high 13.8 points and 4.5 assists.

The strong inside game shows in SMU’s average rebounding margin (9.6) and
blocks (5.0). The Mustangs have held opponents to 35.7 percent from the
field.

“I think chemistry is the biggest difference from last year,” junior Ryan
Manuel said. “Everybody gets along with each other, and we have fun playing
together. When we do that, I think we can play with anybody.”

SMU’s only losses were to Arkansas (89-78) and Virginia (76-73).

The game in Fayetteville, Ark., provided a taste of what’s to come — tough
opponents on the road.

“We’ve bounced back since then,” Brown said. “We just didn’t finish against
Virginia, but then we finished great at Wyoming, which isn’t an easy place to
play. I just see improvement every day.”

Follow Bill Nichols on Twitter at @BillNicholsDMN.

Tough debut

SMU (10-2) faces a difficult opening stretch against five tough American
Athletic Conference teams this month:

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